September 4, 2023 - Courage

     The final infusion to stimulate the stem cells is complete.  Blood work will determine if I need a booster later this evening.
     I don’t think the upper respiratory infection is better.
     I keep thinking that there will come a point when I have said all that I have to say and then I will quit writing the blogs.  We aren’t there yet.
     During these blogs I have shared about many gifts that have moved my heart.  I can’t mention them all and please don’t feel offended if I fail to mention yours.  I am pretty sure that you’d want to take back the feeling of being offended before you finish this.
     There have been quilts and a pool vacuum.  Gifts of your presence by coming or going with us to Rochester.   There have been monetary gifts and many notes of encouragement like the one from a great niece who believes that I am stronger and braver than I think I am.
     In some ways getting to Rochester was a blur and finally last evening I sat down to go through some of the cards for the first time.  One of them I will remember until Jesus comes.
     Not all that long ago I walked with two families during a parent’s worst nightmare, the terminal illness of a newborn.  Neither Blake nor William left the NICU before Jesus healed them with the ultimate healing.
     One of the cards I received was from one of these families.  The best way to share it is to simply write what was on the note that was inside the card.
 
     “We know you are coming up on some hard months.   We will be praying for you and Teresa during this time.  We just wanted to give you something that hopefully helps with the tough times.  It’s not much but it meant a lot to us during all the nights in the hospital with William.  During his stay at the hospital, they used to send him beads for every milestone.  It was called Beads of Courage!  Well long story short, one of those beads was a heart.  As a family we wanted to pass this along to your family to give you guys hope and courage.  I hope it gives you some peace during this time.”
     Love you all!!! Patrick, Michelle, Benjamin, and Nathan
 
     Though it is rarely a part of my nature, there have been numerous times when I have been glad that I was writing on a computer because the tears don’t stain the keyboard like they do a piece of paper.
     I just about lost it on this one.  Many days I watched William and Blake fight for their lives.  I don’t qualify to be in the Beads of Courage club or be mentioned in the same breath.
     But I will tell you one thing, I have a resolve to make these two families proud of the fight and the courage.
     I sent Patrick and Michelle a text, asking for permission to share their note.  After giving permission, Michelle wrote, “I truly believe that God brought us together for a reason.  That we would be there for each other during the hard times.  You did that for us and we really want to be there for you.”
And that they are for me.
     I am still glad that I am writing this on a computer.
     I have a huge bias as a pastor.  I make no apologies for that.  I believe that God’s plan for His people is to be in relationship with others that simply can’t be matched in this world.  Bearing one another’s burdens continues to be a recurring theme in these blogs.
     How in the world could I face the future, whatever the future holds, without one hand holding on to Jesus and the other hand holding on to so many of His followers?
     A Bead of Courage.   Lord, help me muster up enough by your grace and the encouragement of others to be deemed worthy of the calling.